Looking to equal its best start in 11 years, California (8-3, 1-1 Pac-10) opens 2004 at Washington (7-4, 0-2) on Friday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. The Golden Bears conclude their first road trip in more than a month at Washington State (4-7, 0-2) on Sunday, Jan. 4 at 1 p.m.

Here are the vitals heading into week two of Pac-10 play:

- Cal owns an RPI of No. 24 according to the WBCA and is receiving two votes in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and six in the USA Today-ESPN-WBCA Top 25 Poll.

- The Bears saw their five-game winning streak and eight-game undefeated streak at home, dating back to last season, come to an end with a 70-67 loss to Oregon State on Dec. 29.

- With a 61-57 triumph over No. 22 Oregon on Dec. 27, Cal posted its first Pac-10 opening win in eight seasons and its first win over a ranked opponent since Feb. 2001 (No. 23 Oregon, 68-57).

- Cal is averaging 12.2 points per game more than it did last season (69.8 now) and ranks fifth in the conference in scoring. The Bears are tied for third in the league in scoring defense at 60.6.

- At 46.6 percent, Cal leads the conference in field goal percentage after ranking ninth a year ago at 37.8 percent. Three players rank in the top 10 in the conference in this category.

- Senior guard Nihan Anaz leads Cal and ranks fifth in the Pac-10 in scoring at 16.1 ppg, which is on track to be the program's highest scoring average in nine seasons.

- Junior forward Leigh Gregory is having a career year at 12.6 ppg (9th Pac-10) and 6.6 rpg (10th Pac-10) and posted her first career double-double vs. Oregon State (18 points, 11 rebounds). She also ranks third in the conference in field goal percentage at 57.3.

-Cal has lost six straight games to Washington and split the season series with Washington State last year with each team winning at its own home venue.
The Bears are looking for other players on their bench to step up with Renee Wright out with an illness and Jacqueline Sanchez re-aggravating a knee injury.